[Intraoperative peritoneal lavage in generalized acute peritonitis. Experience with 61 cases]

After wide preface about peritoneal anatomy, pathological, physiology and physiopatology and about the physiopatology of general acute peritonitis, a case records of 61 patients is produced. All the patients were shocked and urgently operated for general acute septic peritonitis and were abundantly washed with a polisaline solution during the operation. That washing technique is described and the authors remark its abundancy (at least 10-12 litres) and its systematicity. They also remark that the washing is the true and main moment of the reanimation and it is the most important salvage action in the general acute peritonitis. The antibiotical therapy, especially the topical one, and the drainage are only complementary elements in the treatment. Among 61 patients, with an average of 54 years, there were eight deaths (13%) in old patients, with an average of 71 years and they were all caused by cardiac and circulatory disease. No patient died for peritonitis or for toxic-infections causes. The postoperative morbility (eight patients-13%) was mainly caused by the infection of the laparotomy and it only prolonged some days the stay in hospital.